Topical compositions of 17alpha,21-ortho esters of betamethasone having topical anti-inflammatory activity and their use



3,312,591 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 TOPICAL COMPOSITIONS OF ESTERS F 17a,21-0RTHO BETAMETHASONE HAVING TOPICAL ANTI-INFLAMNIATORY ACTIVITY AND THEIR USE Joseph Elks, London, and Niall Galbraith to Glaxo Laborat Britain No Drawing.

364,804, May Ser. No. 567,309 Claims priority, app

18,641/63; Jan.

Peter John May, North Harrow, Weir, Wembley, England, assignors ories Limited, a corporation of Great Continuation of application Ser. No. 4, 1964. This application July 19, 1966,

lication Great Britain, May

9 Claims. (Cl. 167-58) This invention is concerned with topical compositions comprising new steroid compounds having high anti-infiammatory action use in alleviating topical inflammatory conditions.

on topical administration'and their This is a continuation of our application S.N. 364,804, filed May 4, 1964, abandoned in favor of this application.

An important use of anti-inflammatory compounds is their use in topical preparations for the local treatment of infiammations and considerable research has been directed to find compounds having good local action on topical administration.

It is an object of the invention to provide new compositions for topical application having high anti-inflammatory action. for their use in tions.

It is a further object to provide a method alleviating topical inflammatory condi- These ortho esters anti-inflammatory action on topical have in fact been found to possess application exceeding that of the best compounds hitherto especially proposed for topical purposes test of McKenzie et According to the (as judged for example by the patch aL, Arch. Derm., 1,952, 86, 608). present invention there are employed compounds represented by the general formula:

where X is fluorine or chlorine, R is a polycarbon atom straight or branched chain alkyl group containing up to 4 carbon atoms and R is a methyl or ethyl group. Also according 'to the present invention there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for use in the topical treatment of infiammatio I where R, R and together with a n comprising a compound of Formula X have the meanings stated above topical vehicle for said steriod.

The compounds according to this inventionhave high anti-inflammatory a ction on topical administration coupled with low mineralo-corticoid action, as well as low gluco-corticoid activity when administered systemically.

The compounds thu s have the desirable high anti-inflammatory action on topical administration, with little risk of disturbance of th action should the c Of the compound e mineral balance and other systemic ompound be absorbed. s of the present invention the methyl 7 etc.

i used this may for example be benzene, dioxan,

ortho valerates have high anti-inflammatory action on topical administration the action of the betamethasone orthoesters especially betamethasone methyl orthovalerate being quite outstanding.

It will be appreciated that the active ortho esters of .the present invention can exist in two stereoisomeric forms by virtue of the asymmetry of the carboxylic carbon atom (i.e. the carbon atom linked to the oxygen atoms at the 17- and 21-positions). The two series may for convenience be designated the A and B series. Compounds of the A series are characterised by possessing a more negative or less positive molecular rotation than the corresponding isomers of the B series. Compounds of the A series are preferred as they are more readily prepared.

The active steroid may be formulated into a preparation suitable for topical administration in conventional manner with the aid of one or more carriers or excipients. Examples of types of preparation include ointments, lotions, creams, powders, drops (e.g. ear drops and eye drops), suppositories, retention enemas, chewable or suckable tablets or pellets (eg. for the treatment of aphthous ulcers) and aerosols. Ointments and creams may for example, be formulated with an aqueous or oily base with the addition of suitable thickening and/or gelling agents. Such bases may thus, for example, include water and/ or an oil such as liquid paraffin or a vegetable oil such as arachis oil or castor oil. Thickening agents which may be used according to the nature of the base include soft paraflin, aluminium stearate, cetostearyl alcohol, polyethylene glycols, woolfat, hydrogenated lanolin, beeswaxetc.

Lotions may be formulated with an aqueous or oily base and will ingeneral also include one or more of the following namely, emulsifying agents, dispersing agents, suspending agents, thickening agents, colouring agents, perfumes and the like.

Powders may be formed with the aid of any suitable powder base e.g. tac, lactose, starch etc. Drops may be formulated with an aqueous base also comprising one or more dispersing agents, suspending agents, solubilising agents etc.

The pharmaceutical compoisti'ons according to the invention may also include one or more preservatives or bacteriostatic agents e.g. methyl hydroxy benzoate, propyl hydroxy benzoate, chlorocresol, benzalkonium chlorides The compositions according to the invention may also contain other active ingredients such as antimicrobial agents, particularly antibiotics.

The proportion of active steroid in the compositions according to the invention depends on the precise type of formulations to be prepared but will generally be within the range of from 0.0001% to 5% by weight preferably at least 0.0005%. Generally however for most types of preparations advantageously the proportion used will be within the range of from 0.001 to.0.5% and preferably 0.01 to 0.25%.

The orthoesters, according to the invention can be prepared by generally known methods. For example the parent 17,21-hydroxy steroid may be reacted with an ortho ester of the'general formula RC(OR (Where R and R have the above stated meanings).

This reaction isconveniently carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst for example p-toluene sulphonic acid, pyridine hydrochloride or sulphuric acid, in the presence or absence of a solvent. When a solvent is diethyl ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate or toluene. The reaction may be effected at ambient or elevated temperature, e.g. up to about C. according to the nature of the reactants, and whether or not a solvent is used. Preferably at least 0.08 molecular equivalents of acid catalyst are used per mole of steroid starting material.

The above processes in general give rise to a mixture of isomers of the A and B series, which canbe separated as desired, for example by fractional crystallisation.

In the following preparative Examples l-10 the isomers prepared are the A isomers unless otherwise stated.

For a better understanding of the invention the following examples are given by way of illustration only:

EXAMPLE 1 9a-flu0r0 11/3 hydrxy-16B-methyl-17a,21- (1 '-butyl-1'- methoxymethylenedioxy) pregna-1,4-diene 3,20 dione (betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate) A suspension of betamethasone (2.7 gm.) in benzene (sodium dried, 300 ml.) was distilled vigorously for a few minutes. Toluene-p-sulphonic acid monohydrate (50 mg.) and methyl orthovalerate (6.5.ml.) were added in turn and distillation continued until solution of betamethasone was complete (ca. 30 mins.).

The reaction mixture was cooled and treated with solid sodium bicarbonate and a few drops of pyridine. After a few minutes shaking the solids were removed by filtration and the benzene solution taken to dryness. The oily residue was crystallised twice from ether-petrol to give betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate (1.3 gm.) as fine needles M.P. 153154 dec., [a] -|-70.9 (c. 1.0 dioxan) A222? 239 mu, 6 16,240

(Found: C, 68.7; H, 8.15; F, 3.9. C H FO requires C, 68.55; H, 8.0; F, 3.9%.)

EXAMPLE 2 9u-fluor0 11,3 hydroxy-16/3-methyl-17a,21-(1'-ethyl-1- ethoxymethylenedioxy')pregna. 1,4 diene-3,20-di0ne (betamethasone 17,21-ethyl orthopropionate) A mixture of betamethasone (200 mg.), ethyl orthopropionate ml.) and toluene-p-sulphonic acid (10 mg.) was heated on a steam bath for 1 hours and then kept at room temperature for 2 /2 days. The white solid obtained by filtration was shaken with petroleum-ether containing a few drops of pyridine, and then recrystallised from acetone-petroleum ether to afford betamethasone 17,21-ethyl orthopropionate (8 6' mg.) M.P. 205-212", [M -+648 (c. 1.06, dioxan) (Found: C, 67.7; H, 7.7; F, 4.1. C2'7H37FO6 requires C, 68.05; H, 7.8; F, 4.0%.)

EXAMPLE 3' 9a-flu0r0 115 hydroxy-I 6,8-methyl-1 704,21-(1 '-n-pr0p-yl- 1 -methoxymethylenedioxy)pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-di0ne (betamethasone 17,21-methy'l ortho-n-butyrate) A 239 me 6 15,200

max.

nujol v,,,,,, 3350, 1732, 1670, 1080 and 1060 cm."

(Found: C, 68.1; H, 7.7; F, 4.1. C27H37FO6 requires C, 68.05; H, 7.8; F, 4.0%.)

Smaller fractions and the mother liquors from crystallizations were combined and rechromatographed to yield more betamethasone 17,21-methyl ortho-n-butyrate (1.1 g.).

EXAMPLE 4 fluoro-Ilfi-hydroxy-I6B-methyl-17a,21(1'-is0pr0pyl- 1 '-meth0xymethylenedi0-xy pregna-I ,4-diene-3,20-di0ne (betamethasone 1 7,21 -methyl orthoisobuty rate) P 239 my (6 15,920)

(Found: C, 67.95; H, 7.95. C27H37FO6 requires C, 67.95; H, 7.85%.)

EXAMPLE 5 9oc-flu0r0 116 hydroxy-l 6fi-methyl-I 7a,21-(1 '-is0butyl- 1 '-meth0xymethylenedioxy) pregna-l ,4-diene-3,20-di0ne (betamethasone 1 7,21 -methyl orthoisoval era te) Betamethasone (1 g.) was treated with methyl orthoisovalerate (2.0 m1.) as described in Example 4 to give betamethasone 17,21-methy1 orthoisovalerate (29 6 mg.) as fien needles, M.P. 176, [0c] 64.5 (c. 1.08 dioxan) A 239 ma (6 15,590)

- (Found: c', 68.75; H, 8.4. 0 ,11 ,1 0 requires c, 68.55; H, 8.0%.)

EXAMPLE 6 9a-flu0r0 11B hydr0xy-16fi-methyl-17a,21-(1-butyl-1'- methoxymethylenedz'oxy)pregna 1,4-diene-3,20-dione, B isomer (betamethason 17,21-methyl orthovalerate, B isomer) A suspension of betamethasone (4.4 g.) in benzene (1000 ml.) was distilled for a few minutes and toluene-psulphonic acid monohydrate (120 mg.) and methyl orthovalerate (3.0 ml.) were added. The mixture was refluxed for 30 minutes and the benzene solution was cooled, treated with solid sodium bicarbonate and a few drops of pyridine, filtered and taken to dryness.

The residue was taken up in ether and the crude orthoester (A isomer, 4.12 g.) precipitated with petrol and removed by filtration. Evaporation of the mother liquors gave an oily residue (approx. 1.5 g.) shown to be a 1:1 mixture of the two isomers by thin layer chromatography. This material, in benzene, was chromatographed on 30 parts grade III basic alumina and the first fractions, which were rich in the B isomer, were combined (350 mg). Further chromatography on large alumina plates afforded pure betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate, B isomer (73 mg.) as prisms, from ether-petrol, M.P. 148-149, [a] +84.6 (c. 0.8, acetone) A 239 mp. (6 14,960)

(Found: C, 68.7; H, 7.8; C23H39FO6 requires C, 68.55; H, 8.0%.)

The following example shows the preparation of the compound of Example 1 on a larger scale.

EXAMPLE 7 9a-flu0r0-11fl -hydr0xy 16/3 methyl-17a,2]-(1-butyl- 1' methoxymethylenedioxy)pregna 1,4 dime-3,20- dione (betamethasone-1 7,21 -methyl orthovalerale) towards the end of the addition. The reaction was completed by continuing the reflux for 30 minutes.

The reaction mixture was concentrated to low bulk by vacuum distillation and the residue triturated with petroleum ether (B.P. 80-l00) (2.0 1.). The solid was filtered off, washed with petroleum ether (B.P. 80100) (500 ml.) and air dried to give betamethasone 1712,21- methyl-orthovalerate (232 g.; 93% of theory), M.P. 152 (dec.), [u] |70 (c. 1.0 Me CO).

EXAMPLE 8 9a-chlore-1Ifl-hydroxy-Mfi-methyl-J7:1,21-(1 '-ethyl-1 ethoxymethylenedioxy )pregn'a-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (a) 9a-chl0r0-I1BJ 7 a,21 -trihydroxy-] 6 ,B-m-eihylpregna- 1 ,4-diene-3,20-di one A suspension of 93,1lfl-epoxy-l7a,21-dihydroxy-16fimethylpregna-l,4-diene-3,20-dione (4 g.) in concentrated hydrochloric acid (37% W./W.; 80 ml.) was shaken at room temperature for 5 min., by which time all the starting material had dissolved. Water (80 ml.) was added to the solution and the resultant suspension was shaken for 4 hours and then poured into a solution of potassium carbonate (160 g.) in water (200 ml.). The precipitated chlorohydrin (4.1 g.) was recrystallised twice from acetone to give an analytic-ally pure sample, M.P. 204- 206 (dec.), [a] |l40.5 (c. 0.9 in dioxan) x 238239 mu, 6 15,700

(Found: "C, 64.8; H, 7.2; Cl, 8.3. C H ClO requires C, 64.6; H, 7.1; Cl, 8.6%.) (b) Qa-chloro-I I ,B-hydmxy-I 6 3-methyl-I 7 11,21 1 ethyl- -ethoxymethylenedixy pregna-I ,4-diene-3,20-dione 9a chloro 11p,17u,2l-trihydroxy-l6fl-methylpregna 1,4-diene-3,20-dione (340 mg.) prepared as in Example 8(a) in dioxan (15 ml.) was treated with toluene-p-sulphonic acid monohydrate (10 mg.) and ethylorthopropionate (0.48 ml.). After 35 min. the reaction mixture was poured into dilute aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (110 ml.) and the resultant precipitate (405 mg.) was recrystallised from acetone containing a trace of pyridine to give the orthoester (230 mg), M.P. 152-157,

[a] +106 (c. 0.8 in dioxan) A 238-239 mu 6 15,600

(Found: C, 66.2; H, 7.6; Cl, 7.2. C H ClO requires C, 65.8; H, 7.6; Cl, 7.2%.)

EXAMPLE 9 9a-flu0ro 11,8 hydroxy 16/3-metlzyl-17a,21-(1'-butyl- 1-meth0xymethylenedioxy)pregna 1,4 diene 3,20- dz'one (betamethasone 17,21-mcthyl orthovalerate) EXAMPLE 10 s at-71mm 11p hydroxy ]6fi-methyl-17a,21-(]'-butyl- I-methoxymethylenedioxy)pregna 1,4 diene 3,20- dione (betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate) (a) A drop of concentrated sulphuric acid was added to a suspension of betamethasone (490 mg.) in methyl orthovalerate ml.) and the mixture gently warmed until a clear solution was obtained. After the solution had been kept at room temperature for 30 minutes, petroleum ether was added and the filtration and stirred with precipitated solid removed by dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and again filtered and washed well with water. The dried steroid was filtered through basic alumina (7 g.) in benzene and then recrystallised from ether-acetonepetroleum ether to afford betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate (265 mg.) having spectroscopic and chromatographic properties identical with the orthovalerate prepared as in Example 1.

(b) Pyridine hydrochloride was added to a solution of betamethasone alcohol (1 g.) in dioxan (40 ml.) containing methyl orthovalerate (2 ml.) and after Warming on a steam bath for a few minutes the mixture was left to stand at room temperature for 18 hours.

A few drops of pyridine and solid sodium bicarbonate was added and after being shaken for 1 minute the solids were filtered off and most of the dioxan evaporated in vacuo. Trituration of the residue gave a white solid which was dissolved in benzene and filtered through basic alu mina (10 g.). The eluted steroid was recrystallised from ether-acetone-pet-roleum ether to aiford betamethasone 17,21-methyl orthovalerate (565 mg.) having spectroscopic and chromatographic properties identical with the orthovalerate prepared in Example 1.

The following examples illustrate topical formulations prepared in accordance with the invention. In each example the active ingredient is betamethasone methyl orthovalerate, but it Will be appreciated that this substance may be replaced by other active ortho compounds used in accordance with the invention.

The following Examples 11-14 illustrate the preparation of ointments.

EMMPLE 11 Percent w./w. Betamethasone methyl orthovalerate 0.125 Liquid parafiin B.P. 10.0 White soft p-araflin to produce 100 parts by weight.

Ball-mill the steroid with a little of the liquid paraffin until the particle size is reduced to a maximum of 5,41. and preferably mainly below 2 Dilute the paste and rinse out the mill with the remaining liquid paraflin, mix and add the suspension to the meltedwhite soft paraffin at 50 C. Stir until cold to give a homogeneous ointment.

EXAMPLE 12 Percent w./w. Betamethasone methyl orthovalerate 0.25 Aluminum stearate 3.2 Liquid paraffin B.P. to 100 parts.

Disperse the aluminium stea-rate in the liquid paraffin by vortex stirring and heat the suspension with continued stirring, at a temperature rise rate of 2 C. per minute until C. is reached; Maintain the temperature at 9095 C. for 30 minutes until solution is complete and a gel is formed. Cool quickly, preferably by the use of cooling coils or concentric cooling rings to produce a transparent solid gel. Ball-mill the steroid with some of the gel as described in Example 11 and mix the milled paste with further portions of the gel to produce a homogeneous mix.

EXAMPLE 13 Percent W./W. Betamethason'e methyl orthovalerate 0.1 Woolfat 12.0 Cetostearyl alcohol B.P.C 20.0 Liquid parafiin 25.0

White soft parafiin to parts.

Ball-mill the steroid with a little of the liquid paratfin as in Example 11 and add the resulting paste, diluted with the remaining liquid paraffin, to a mixture of cetostearyl alcohol, woolfat and white soft paraflin, melted together by gentle warming. Stir until cold to give a homogeneous mix.

EXAMPLE 14 Percent w./w. Betamethason methyl orthovalerate 0.1 Hydrogenated lanolin (e.g. Lanocerina sold by Croda Ltd. of London WC. 2, England) Liquid parafiin White soft paraffin to 100 :parts.

Ball-mill the steroid with liquid paraffin as in Example 11, and add the resulting paste, diluted with the remaining liquid paraflin to the mixture of hydrogenated lanolin and white soft parafiin, melted together by gently warming. Stir until cold to give a homogeneous mix.

The following Examples 15 and 16 illustrate the prepa ration of water-miscible creams:

EXAMPLE 15 Percent w./w. Betamethasone methyl orthovalerate 0. Beeswax 15.0 Cetostearyl alcohol 7.0 Cetomacrogol 1000 B.P.C. 3.0 Liquid parafiin 5.0 Chlorocresol 0.1

Distilled water to produce 100 parts by weight.

EXAMPLE 16 Percent w./w. Beta'rnethasone methyl orthovalerate 0.1 Cetostearyl alcohol 7.2 Cetomacrogol 1000 B.P.C 1.8 Liquid paraffin 6.0 White soft paraflin 15.0 Chlorocresol 0.l

Distilled water to produce 100 parts by weight.

Prepare as described in Example 15, replacing the beeswax with white soft paraffin in the oily phase.

The following Examples 17 and 18 illustrate the preparation of lotions:

EXAMPLE 17 Percent w./v. Betamethasone methyl orthovalerate .5 Lanbritol wax 1 0.93 Diethylene glycol monostearate 0.65 Cetostearyl alcohol 0.65 Liquid paraffin 1.95 Glycerin 5.0 Isopropyl alcohol 6.5 Methyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.15

Distilled water to produce 100 volumes.

1 Lanbritol Wax is a non-ionic wax for stabilizing emulsions consisting of a mixture of fatty alcohols with polyethylene glycol ethers of fatty alcohols sold by Rousheim Moore of London W10. 1, England.

Ball-mill the steroid with half the glycerin, as in Example 11, and use the isopropyl alcohol for dilution and rinsing purposes.

Melt together the Lanbritol Wax, diethylene glycol monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol and liquid paraflin and maintain at 60 C. Heat the available water and remaining glycerin to 95 C. Add the methyl parahydroxy benzoate and stir until dissolved. 0001 to 65 C. Add the oily mix at 60 C. to the aqueous phase at 65 C. and allow to cool while stirring rapidly until the emulsion gels at 40-45 C., thereafter stir slowly. Add the well mixed steroid suspension slowly to the lotion base and stir to obtain a homogeneous mix.

8 EXAMPLE 18 Percent w./v.

Betamethasone methyl orthovalerate 0.1 Tween (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate sold by Atlas Powder Co. Ltd.) 0.01

Carbopol 934 (Carboxy vinyl polymers sold by B. F.

Goodrich Chemical Co., Cleveland, Ohio) Diethanolamine (approx) Distilled water to produce 100 vols.

Ball-mill the steroid with a little water and the Tween 80 as in Example 11. Disperse the Carbopol 934 in the available water by vortex stirring. Add the diethanolamine, slowly with stirring until the clear thickened mix has a pH of 7.0. Incorporate the steroid slurry into the lotion base and mix well.

EXAMPLE 19 Aerosol spray lotion Betamethasone orthovalerate mgm 5.0 Fractionated coconut oil to gm 1.20 Dichlorodifluoromethane gm 16.32 Trichlorofluoromethane gm 24.48

Dry the betamethasone orthovalerate overnight at 60 C. under vacuum and over phosphorus pentoxide. Ballmill the dried powder for at least 4 hours With a little of the dried filtered oil. Rinse out the mill with more dried filtered oil and pass the suspension through a 325 mesh B.S. sieve. Assay the suspension and dilute with more dried filtered oil to the required concentration. Incorporate the suspension into the pressure container with the propellants in a conventional manner. EXAMPLE 20 Aphthous ulcer pellets Betamethasone orthovaleraite Mmgm 0.5 Lactose mg 69.90 Acacia mg 3.00 Magnesium stearate mg 0.75

Pass the steroid, lactose and acacia, separately through a No. 60 B.S. mesh sieve. Blend the powders and granulate with 50% ethanol in water. Pass the mass through a No. 12 mesh B.S. sieve and dry the granules at 50 C. Pass the dried granules through a No. 20 mesh B.S. sieve and blend in the magnesium stearate, previously passed through a No. 100 mesh B.S. sieve. Compress in a conventional manner on 7 inch diameter punches, to give a pellet that will dissolve slowly in the mouth.

EXAMPLE 21 Retention enema Percent w./v. Betamethasone orthovalerate 0.001 Tween 80 olyoxyethylene sorbiton monooleate sold by Atlas Powder Co. Ltd.) 0.05 Ethanol 0.015 Methyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.08 Propyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.02 Distilled Water to 100 vols.

Heat the available water to C. add the methyl and propyl p-hydroxy benzoate and stir to dissolve. Cool the vehicle to room temperature. Disperse the steroid in the ethanol and add to the Tween 80; warm the mixture to 50 C. and stir until the steroid is in solution. Add the steroid solution to the vehicle, stirring vigorously to avoid precipitation, and make up to volume with water if required. Distribute the enema into polythene plastic bags for selfadministration or into other containers suitable for use.

EXAMPLE 22 Eye drops Percent w./v. Betamethasone orthovalerate 0.05 Tween 80 2.5 Ethanol 0.75 Benzalkonium chloride 0.02 Phenyl ethanol 0.25 Sodium chloride 0.60

Water for injection to volumes.

EXAMPLE 23 Nasal drops Percent w./v. Betamethasone orthovalerate 0.01 Tween 80 0.05 Alcohol 95% 0.15 Methyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.04 Propyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.02 Sodium chloride 0.70

Distilled water to 100 volumes.

Dissolve the sodium chloride and the methyl and propyl-p-hydroxy benzoates in the distilled water, heated to 95 C. and allow the solution to cool. Disperse the steroid in the alcohol and add to the Tween 80. Warm the mixture to 50 C. and stir until solution of the steroid is efiected. Add the steroid solution to the vehicle with rapid stirring to obtain a clear solution. Filter the solution free from particulate matter through a sintered glass filter and distribute into small, well filled containers.

We claim:

1. A pharmaceutical composition for use in the topical treatment of inflammation comprising a steroid of the formula:

where X is chlorine or fluorine, R is ethyl, propyl or butyl, and R is methyl or ethyl, and a topical vehicle for said steroid.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the steroid is 9a-fluoro-llfl-hydroxy-l6fi-methyl-l7a,21 (1'- propyl-1-methoxymethylenedioxy)pregna-l,4 diene 3,

20-dione.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the steroid is 9a-fluoro-1 lfi-hydroxy-l6fi-methyl-17a,21 (1- butyl-l'-methoxymethylenedioxy)pregna-1,4-diene 3,20- dione.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the topical vehicle is selected from the group consisting of lotions, ointments and creams.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing from 0.0001 to 5 percent by weight of said steroid.

6. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the topical vehicle is selected from the group consisting of ointments, creams, lotions, powders, drops, suppositories, retention enemas, chewable tablets, suckable tablets and aerosols.

7. A method for alleviating topical inflammatory conditions which comprises applying to the afllicted area an effective amount of a steroid of the formula:

CHzO R No references cited.

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. HENRY A. FRENCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION FOR USE IN THE TOPICAL TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION COMPRISING A STEROID OF THE FORMULA: 